Web tensioning and driving device



March 17, 1953 a. H. WHELDON WEB TENSIONIQG AND DRIVING DEVICE FiledJuly 2, 1949 IN VEN TOR. ire/2a: #415104 Patented Mar. 17 1953 UNITEDSTATES :PATENT OFFICE WEB 'TENSIONING AND DRIVING DEVICE George H."Wheldon, San Franciscm 'balff.

ApplicationJul'y 2, 1949, Serial-No. 102;81-3

(Cl. E m-'75) 1 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a mechanismfor driv- :ing a roll of newsprintor the like and for maintaining-a proper tensionthereon.

This application is a continuation in part of my copendin'g applicationSer. No. 52,377 filed October -1., 1948, entitled Web Tensioning andDrivingMec'ha-nism.

, Asset 'iorth in my copending application, in supplying a web to arotary printing press, such as=a newspaper printing press, a roll ofnewsprint is supported upon a reel. 'It is common practice to .feed theweb from the reel to the press by means of straps trained over rollersand driven at a speed governed by the speed of the press, such :as tounwind the roll at aiproper-speed and to maintain a proper tension uponthe web as it is fed to the press. As set forth in my copendingapplication, an improved means is provided for maintaining a propertension upon the web and also .for driving the roll of newsprint at theproper speed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improvements uponthe mechanism described in my copending application.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means ofdriving a roll of newsprint or the like .by tension of the web duringoperation :at normal press speed, and toprovide a positive drive for theroll of newsprint during initial, :slow movement of the press, as whilethe web is being threaded through the press.

.It is a still further object of the present inmention to provide -'ameans of positively driving a. new, onctiining rbll of newspri-nt insynchronisin with a inearly exhausted roll of newsprint so as toiac'ilitate operation of what is known inthe art a's 'a flying paster.

These and other "objects of the invention will be apparent from theensuing description and the appended claims.

brie form which the invention "may assume is exempl ifledin thefollowing description and illustrated by way of -'e'xamp'1e theaccompanying "drawings, inwhic'h:

mg. i is a frag' mentary view in elevation of'a reel stand embed mg thedriving and braking meehamismoi the invention.

mg. 22 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic and electric circuits.

Referrin'ginow to the drawings, there is shown a reel in for typeincluding a reel stand gll having a :shaft l2 .fi'ournal'ed therein andextending :between opposite posts of the stand. ilihe reel is ofweIl-hnownconstruction and is "shown, for example, in Wheldon set 9.1.,United States '2 Patent Number 2,064,638, issued December 1 '5, 1936entitled Web Tensioning Mechanism.

Briefly, and as modified .forpurposes of themesent invention, the reelcomprises three pairs of radial arms 13 '(of which only one pair isshown), the arms being fixed to the shaft f2 so as to rotate therewith.vA roll 15 of newsprint Wound upon a suitable core [5a is supportedbetween each pair of arms by means of s'tubs'hafts It and spuds I l, thelatter being inserted in the ends of the core. is also described in theabove mentioned patent, and as .is well known in the art, the rollsmounted upon such a reel are unwound one at a time, and 'as a rollapproaches exhaustion a device known as a flying pastor is employed to.paste the end of a .full roll to the Web leaving-the exhausted roll.

I In accordance with the present invention there is provided at one endof each roll an hydraulic brakin and driving mechanism generallydesignated as -20. 'This mechanism comprises an impeller 25 (see Fig..2) secured to an extension lfia of one-of the stubshafts I6 anddisposed in a fluid-tight casin 215 securedto an arm [3 of the reel.Normally, valves 63 and 6'4 are closed and valve is open, so thatconduits 2 and 21a provide a circuit .for :an hydraulic liquid in thecasing 26. The functions of the valves '63, 6 1 and 65 are describedhereinafter. Disposed within the conduit 2'1 is a valve 28,, which canbe ad- .justed manually in the manner described in .my copendingapplication, to exert any desired degree of resistance to the hydrauliccircuit consisting of the casing 16 and conduits 21 and 27a. The valve'T28 is also controlled by a solenoid 34 having leads 33 and 34 in themanner hereinafter described, and a gauge (not shown) may also beprovided .for measuring the hydraulic pressurein the conduit 21.

It will be seen that, as the .roll 1-5 .is unwound, the impeller 25 willrotate, thus causing hydraulic fi'uid to-circulate through the circuit,and that the tendency of the Iiiuid will be to open the valve 2-8. Bymanually setting the valve any desired degree of resistance may beopposed to the =fiow of fluid, and thus any desired degree of braking ofthe roll l5 and tensioning of the web may be applied.

The solenoid -3-| is energized in the :following manner. A main pressmotor is -shown, such motorproviding the power to drive the press athigh speed. -As is well known, and-as described-in .Hentschell andWheldon-Patent No.,1 ,929,'1-14, issued October 3, 1933, entitledAutomatic Break Web Switch and Cutter, the (press drivemecha- 'gizedthrough leads 46 and 41.

nism may also include an auxiliary motor 40a to start the press and tooperate the same at slow speed while the web is being threaded throughthe press, and a contact assembly switch (not shown) for stepping up thespeed of the press motor and of the press. The system described in theabovementioned patent also includes means for automatically cutting theweb when the press motor is stopped, such means being actuated by an E.M. F. generated by the press motor 40 when its main circuit has beenbroken. Details of this system will be found in the said patent and neednot be repeated herein except for the portion of the press motor circuitillustrated in Fig. 2.

As there shown, the press motor 40 is provided with leads 4i and 42which are energized by the main leads (not shown) of the press motorcircuit, and it is also provided with a series field 43 and an armature44. The motor is also provided with a shunt field 45 which is constantlyener- The motor 40 is also connected to an auxiliary circuit includingthe above-mentioned leads 33 and 34 and the solenoid 3 I This circuit iscontrolled by a switch 48 which is normally closed but is kept open whenthe main circuit of the motor is closed. This is accomplished by meansof a solenoid 49 which is energized by the motor circuit through leads50 and I. As long as the main motor circuit is closed, the switch 48 isopen, and hence, the auxiliary circuit is broken and the solenoid (H isdeenergized. When, however, the main motor circuit is broken, the switch48, hence also the auxiliary circuit, is closed.

It is apparent that when, for any reason, the main'press motor circuitis broken, the armature 44 will continue to rotate for a brief periodowing to its momentum, and that because of the shunt field 45, the motor40 will generate an E. M. F.

By reason of the closing of switch 48 and of the press motor auxiliarycircuit, the solenoid 3! will be energized. Accordingly, the valve 28will be urged to closed position, thus providing an extra braking actionon the roll I5 to bring it quickly to a stop.

The hydraulic braking and tensioning mechanism 20 also includes animpeller 51 disposed in a casing 58, and conduits 59 and 60.Electrically operated valves 63 and 64 are disposed in conduits 21 and59, respectively, and electrically operated valves 65 and 66 aredisposed in conduits 21a, and 60, respectively. Also disposed in conduit59 is a slide valve 61.

A circuit is provided for operating the valves 63, 64, 65 and 66, asfollows: The auxiliary motor 40a, which has an armature I5 and a seriesfield T6 is energized through leads l"! and I8, switch arms I9 and 80operable manually as by an arm BI, and leads 82 and 83. It will beapparent that when the switch arms I9 and 80 are moved to the right asviewed in Fig. 2, the auxiliary motor will be energized. Also energizedare solenoids 84, 85, 86 and 81, which control valves 63, B4, 65 and 66,respectively. The solenoids 84, 85, 86 and 81 are energized when theauxiliary motor circuit is closed, through leadsBB, 89, 90, 9| and 92,as illustrated.

When the switch arms I9 and 80 are moved to the left as shown in Fig. 2,they will contact leads I00 and IOI, respectively, and will therebyenergize the solenoids 84, 05, S6 and 81 without, however, energizingthe auxiliary motor 40a.- In an "intermediate or neutral position, theswitch arms 19 and 80 will open both the auxiliary motor and thesolenoid circuits.

Referring again to Fig. l, the impeller 51 is driven by the pressthrough the medium of a shaft I02, a pinion I03 fixed to the shaft I02and meshing with a gear I04 on a sleeve I05, which is rotatable on theshaft I2, and a double bevel gear I06 fixed to the sleeve and meshingwith a bevel pinion l0? fixed to the shaft I08 of impeller 51. The shaftI53 is journaled in brackets I09 and H0, as is a threaded shaft III. Theshafts I08 and Ill are provided with clutches H5 and H6, respectively,having levers Ill, and the shaft III is driven by the bevel gear I05through a pinion H8. The stem N9 of slide valve 57 is actuated by an armI20 connected at one end to the stem and provided at its other end witha half nut I2I in threaded engagement with the shaft III.

In operation the device functions as follows: Assuming that a full rolli5 is in operative position and that it is desired to thread the webthrough the press while operating the press at slow speed, switch arms15 and 85 are moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 2, to close theauxiliary motor circuit and also the circuit of solenoids 84, 85, 86 and81'. The press is now operating at low speed and these solenoids areenergized. Valves 63 and 64, as mentioned, are normally closed but areopened when their solenoids are energized, and valves '65 and 66 operateoppositely and are closed when'the auxiliary motor is operating. Thus,an hydraulic circuit is established through impeller 51 (which is drivenby the press, clutches I I5 and I I6 having been previously engaged),conduit 59, impeller 25 and conduit 2?. Therefore, impeller 25, and withit roll I5 are positively driven and the web is supplied to the press.

Moreover, the web is supplied to the press at a rate which issynchronized with the press speed, regardless of the diameter of rollI5. This is accomplished by the screw feed of the slide valve 5?,through the pinion II8, threaded shaft III, half nut I2I and arm I20.Initially the nut I2I will be set at a point on the shaft I IIcorresponding to the diameter of the roll. For example, if a full rollis used, the nut I21 will be set at its innermost position (bottomposition as viewed in Fig. 1) thus setting the valve 6'! at its mostrestricted position. As the roll I5 is rotated and the web is fed to thepress, thus diminishing the diameter of the roll, the nut I2I will befed outwardly and the valve Bl opened more widely. Thus, less resistanceis opposed to hydraulic pressure from the driving impeller 51 and thedriven impeller 25, hence also the roll l5 will be driven faster. Thepitch of the threads on shaft III is such that as roll l5 rotates andits diameter diminishes, the web will be delivered at a constant linearspeed in relation to the press speed.

Moreover, provision is made for synchronizing the rotation of two rollsduring operation of the flying paster. This is accomplished inthefollowing manner: Assume that a roll I5 is approaching exhaustion andit is desired to prepare another, full roll to take its place. Thenearly exhausted roll will be rotating at press speed and it isdesirable to rotate the full roll at a speed to unwind its web at thesame linear speed as that of the web from nearly exhausted roll. Thefull roll is, of course, provided with a driving mechanism 20 andcircuits as described above and as shown in the drawings. Its switcharms I9 and will be pushed to the left to energize leads I00 and IN,hence the solenoids 84, 85, 86 and seal it er the hill een en aged andthe colfrespo'lid set at full roll llnow drive the l a i 'a 1 16 Web ftieth? nearly f us ed I 1:

during slowspeedtpratmnof the press: of varying the angular spe ed ofthe roll during slow speed operation-of the re deliver the web at aconstant linear speed; and of delivering a new web at the same Maserspeed as the old web during operation of the flying paster.

While 1 have shown the preferred of my invention, itis to be understodthat various" changes may be mace its construction by those skilledinthe art without departing from the spifit'of the invention as defined inthe appended claims;

.Having thus described my invention, what I claim and-"desire tosecure'byLetters Patent is:

1-; Ih'a press assembly comprising a press, electrical means for drivingthe same and a reel for supplying a web to said; press, said reelincluding a rotatable shaft for ea roll of paper, therovement whichcomprises a fir'st ii'n' peller inclianically connected re said shaftand rotatable therewith, a second impeller, means interconnecting saidsecond impeller and said press, an hydraulic circuit including saidfirst and second impellers, and electrical means responsive to theoperation of said press for opening and closing said hydraulic circuit.

2. A press assembly comprising a press, electrical means for drivingsaid press at slow speed, a reel for supplying a web to the press, saidreel comprising a shaft for supporting a roll of paper, hydraulic meansfor driving said shaft including a first impeller mechanically connectedto and rotatable with said shaft, a second impeller, an hydrauliccircuit including both said impellers, mechanical means interconnectingsaid second impeller with said press drive and electrically operablevalve means for opening and closing said hydraulic circuit, said valvemeans being operable to close said circuit when said electrical means isinoperative and to open said circuit when said electrical means isenergized.

3. A press assembly comprising a press, electrical means for driving thesame at low speed, a reel for supplying a web to the press, said reelincluding a rotatable shaft for supporting a roll of paper, hydraulicmeans for driving said shaft including a first impeller mechanicallyconnected to and rotatable with said shaft, a second impellermechanically connected to and driven by said low speed press drive, anhydraulic circuit including both said impellers, electrically operatedvalve means for opening and closing said hydraulic circuit and operableto open said circuit when said electrical means is energized and toclose said circuit when said electrical means is de-energized, and meansfor accelerating the rotary speed of said first impeller to deliver aweb at a constant linear speed as the diameter of a roll of web isdiminished.

4. Web supply means for a rotary press comprising a reel including ashaft for rotatably supporting a roll of paper, first hydraulic meansin- Eiffel 8 eluding a first hydraulic circuit mechanically connected ssaid shaft so as to rotate therewith, second hydraulic means including asecond by draul-ic circuit co isin'g' said first hydraulic roll cfjwebdimhesi'n diameter.

5: Web supply means for :a rotary press com= an rig a reel i ncluding ashaft for rotatably 'su-p 15 mg a ll of "e'wsprint or the like, a firstpeller eperativeiy connected to said shaft so as to rotate therewith,an. hydraulic circuit includ ing said fi rst im-peller, a secondimpeller disposed said hydraulic circuit, means operable to pro-'- videa driving connection between said second ii i'ip'eller and the.press'drive, a valve operable to control the now of fluid through saidhydraulic "circuit, and means operable by the press drive to graduallyopen said valve wider so as to accelerate the angular speed "of saidreel and thereby 'deliver the web to the press at a constant linearspeed as the roll of web diminishes in diameter.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a press, electricalmeans for driving said press, :a reel including a shaft for rotatablysupporting a roll of newsprint or the like for delivering a web to saidpress, hydraulic means for driving said shaft including a first impelleroperatively connected with the shaft so as to rotate therewith, a secondimpeller, an hydraulic circuit including said first and second impeller,means mechanically connecting said second impeller and press drive so asto drive said second impeller, electrically operated valve meansoperable to open and close said hydraulic circuit in response tooperation of said press, and other valve means also operable by saidpress for controlling the fiow of hydraulic fluid through said circuitso as to accelerate the angular speed of said reel to deliver the web ata constant linear speed as the roll of web diminishes in diameter.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a rotary press,electrical means for driving said press including an electric motor fordriving the same at slow speed, a reel including a rotatable shaft forsupplying a web of newsprint or the like to said press, hydraulic meansfor driving said shaft including an hydraulic circuit and first andsecond impellers included in said circuit, said first impeller beingmechanically connected to said shaft to rotate therewith, meansmechanically connecting said second impeller with the press drive fordriving said second impeller, valve means for opening and closing saidhydraulic circuit, electrical means for operating said valve means toopen the same when said electric motor is operating and to close thesame when said electric motor is not operating, other valve means forcontrolling the flow of hydraulic fluid through said circuit, and meansoperable to control said valve and responsive to operation of said pressfor accelerating the angular speed of said reel so as to deliver webtherefrom at a constant linear speed as the roll decreases in diameter.

8. A press assembly comprising a press drive including a motor fordriving the press, a reel including a rotatable shaft for supporting aroll of newsprint, a first impeller rotatable with said shaft, a secondimpeller, means for driving said second impeller from the press, anhydraulic circuit including both said impellers, valve means for openingand closing said circuit, and valve means operated by the press drive tocause said first impeller and roll to deliver a web at a constant linearspeed in relation to press speed.

9. A press assembly comprising a press drive including a press motor fordriving the press at high speed and an auxiliary motor for driving thepress at low speed; a reel including a rotatable shaft for supporting aroll of newsprint; a first impeller rotatable with said shaft; a secondimpeller rotatable by the press drive; an individual hydraulic circuitfor each said impeller and a main hydraulic circuit including both saidimpellers; first valve means operable to close said individual circuits;second valve means operable to control said main circuit; electricalmeans operable to close said first valve means and open said secondvalve means when said auxiliary motor is operating and to open saidfirst valve means and close said second valve means when said auxiliarymotor is not operating; and third valve means operable by the pressdrive to control said main circuit to deliver web from said roll at aconstant linear speed in relation to the press speed. 10. A pressassembly comprising a press drive including a press motor for drivingthe press at high speed and an auxiliary motor for driving the press atlow speed; a reel including a rotatable shaft for supporting a roll ofnewsprint; a. first impeller rotatable with said shaft; a secondimpellers; first valve means operable to close, said individualcircuits; second valve means operable to control said main circuit;electrical means operable to close said first valve means and open saidsecond valve means when said auxiliary motor is operating and to opensaid first valve means and close said second valve means when saidauxiliary motor is not operating; third valve means operable by thepress drive to control said main circuit to deliver web from said rollat a constant linear speed in relation to the press speed, and otherelectrical means operable to actuate said first and second valve meanswhen said auxiliary motor is not operating to close said individualcircuits and open said main circuit.

GEORGE H. WHELDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,304,923 Walser et al May 27,1919 1,652,299 Carpenter Dec. 13, 1927 2,251,493 Montgomery Aug. 5, 19412,253,653 Robinson Aug. 26, 1941 2,259,115 Rayden Oct. 14, 19412,496,977 Bechle Feb. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date368,255 Germany Feb. 3, 1923

